
Class, 



X^^ 



a 



1)00 



- O V> >¥ ./^. 



PkKSEXTHl) BY 






A Chronicle 
...of 

Ancient 
Chestnut Street 



\tf\'7'^ 



5sVl 



Gift 
Author 

? F m 






WHITTIER^S SNOW BOUND, 

" And dear and early friends — the few 
Who yet remain — shall pause to view 
These Flemish pictures of old days ; 
Sit with me at the homestead hearth, 
And stretch the hands of memory forth 
To warm them at the wood fire's blaze ! 
And thanks untraced to lips unknown, 
Shall greet me like the odors blown 
From unseen meadows newly mown." 



A Chronicle of Ancient Chestnut 
Street. 

A SHORT time before Judge Shurt- 
leff' s death, he asked me to write 
the History of Chestnut Street, 
for the " Historical Society." I replied it 
was impossible. I was afterwards asked 
to write for " The Women's Club " con- 
cerning "The Romance of Our Streets." 
Again I refused; though I could trace 
back to the first settlers of Springfield, 
nine ancestors who were living on what is 
now called Main street, in 1640-50, their 
spirits whispered to me no romance. I 
think there must have been some subtle 
influence from the dead past, for little by 
little tradition and memory took posses- 
sion of me, and before I realized it there 
was the History of Ancient Chestnut be- 
fore my eyes. I had simply to write it ; 



and now my children plead it shall be 
written for them. House Number Five, 
please remember, is written for its grand- 
children and great-grandchildren. 

It might be called The Story of Eight 
Houses, for Chestnut street only contained 
eight in its early days. It ended at Bridge 
street, where cows were pastured on the 
grass land, burdock bushes lined the street, 
we children gathered the burrs to make 
baskets. Where the Chapin and club 
houses are, was Worthington Grove ex- 
tending to Spring street ; a fine place for 
picnics. The Fourth of July before Harri- 
son's and Tyler's election, the Hon. Edward 
Everett gave a political address in that 
grove. There was no Pearl street nor Mat- 
toon, nor Harrison avenue ; when those 
changes came they were considered sad 
innovations. The lots on Chestnut street 
were restricted, though both sides belonged 
to the homestead, only one, the right hand 
side from State street, could be built upon. 



A hedge of various kinds fenced off the 
unused land opposite, which being mostly 
a steep hill, was made into offsets, or grew 
a grove of native trees. 

The romance of each house is history as 
I read tradition and my own memories. 
Mr. George Bliss occupied House Number 
One on the brow of the hill where the Epis- 
copal Church now stands. Mr. Jonathan 
Dwight, 2d, a graduate of Harvard Col- 
lege, built the house for his daughter Mary, 
the wife of Mr. Bliss, it was said then to 
be the finest house in town. Mr. Dwight 
originally owned the land and laid out the 
street. From Bliss' Hill over the terrace 
to the hill by House Number Six, (called 
"Child's Hill" for many years), the soil 
was pure sand. Forest trees thrived and 
blackberry vines reveled. Labor, money 
and patience changed it into a garden of 
Eden. Mr. Bliss' father and himself were 
graduates of Yale College. Mr. Bliss, 
senior, was a noted lawyer in his day. Mr. 



Bliss, Jr., was also a lawyer. He was one 
of the most public spirited of Springfield's 
sons, always seeking to give instead of be- 
ing sought. His name generally headed 
a paper, richer men simply following his 
lead. He was president of two western 
railroads, the first president of the Chico- 
pee Bank. He it was who gave impetus 
to the library, paying $10,000 for the land 
and adding to the gift $10,000 in money. 
The hill was always known by the name 
of Bliss' Hill. Let me here tell a story of 
later date. When it was considered desir- 
able to keep that hill free from buildings, 
men were called upon to subscribe money 
in the interest of church and library. The 
son, Mr. George Bliss of New York, gave 
in $1,000 on the price of the land, with the 
understanding it should be called " BHss 
Park." Mr. Merrick dying about that 
time, leaving a large sum of money to 
Springfield's institutions, a handsome leg- 
acy to the library, all memory of Mr. Bliss 



vanished and " Merrick Park " was the re- 
sult. Mr. Merrick would have regretted 
the act more than any one. The city lost 
a memorial that had been ordered in Italy 
at a cost of ^10,000, and the interest of one 
of its sons. Mr. Bliss told these facts last 
autumn and gave liberty to repeat them. 
They show how quickly past virtues are 
forgotten. Mrs. Bliss was a woman of 
strong mental qualities, a type of the old 
aristocratic kind. Social lines were mark- 
ed, and no one heeded them more than 
she. Her patriotism was the cure. When 
the Civil war came all barriers were re- 
moved, and nobody but McClellan was 
outside her pale ; his inactivity roused her 
indignation. Her interest in the soldiers 
knew no limit. After the news of a battle 
her house was the gathering place for cut- 
ting out work for the sanitary commission. 
No matter the day, if the tidings came 
Sunday morning the afternoon was given 
up to that work, that it might be sent to 



lO 

the front as soon as possible. Number One 
was without and within attractive. A fine 
hedge on the left hand side, marking off 
the land there, and within, on the other 
side, were a wealth of flowers, flowering 
shrubs and fruit trees during the summer 
that a picket fence protected. A conserv- 
atory in the winter months, into which the 
two windows of the front parlor opened, 
was a continued pleasure. Camellias, aza- 
leas, geraniums bloomed as in a greenhouse, 
and the fragrance of heliotrope, jasmine 
and daphne made up for their lack of per- 
fume. Between the two parlor windows 
opposite the door as you entered, was that 
wonderful painting of the Holy Family, an 
original by Annibale Carracci. The head 
of Joseph was like life. It was bought in 
Florence in troublous times ; afterwards a 
law was passed forbidding such pictures to 
be taken out of Italy. The memorial win- 
dow for Mr. and Mrs. Bliss in the Church 
of the Unity is a copy of that painting 



II 



which is now in the possession of Mr. 
George Bliss of New York. There were 
three children born in Number One, the 
eldest, Mary, died in infancy, the second 
daughter, Sarah, married Mr. George 
Walker. The only son, George, is a well 
known lawyer in New York. I cannot 
leave Bliss' Hill without a memory of those 
days, when with our sleds on our way to 
school at the seminary on Maple street, 
where Mr. F. H. Harris now lives, we 
"slid" down the ice-covered hill (coasting 
was a later term) turning the corner at 
State street with an impetus that carried 
us half way to Main. No danger signals 
were required; then on to Maple, if time 
allowed, just one slide down Cross street 
hill, then called " Pig Alley." Have you 
ever looked over the brow of that hill ? 
Going into chaos one might say. Just grip 
your sled, close your eyes, and you and 
your sled one, pass over the knolls with a 
bound, each successive one with increasing 



12 

force, pride, not pleasure, rewarding you at 
the finish. How our cheeks glowed when 
we entered school ! 

House Number Two was built and occu- 
pied by Mr. James Brewer, a descendant 
of Rev. Daniel Brewer of England, pastor 
in 1694 of the first Congregational Church 
in Springfield. Mr. Brewer was a mer- 
chant ; he married Miss Harriet Adams of 
Mansfield, Conn. There were eight chil- 
dren born in Number Two, four sons and 
four daughters. Harriet, a beautiful girl, 
married Mr. Spaulding Porter of Hartford, 
Conn., dying soon after. The oldest son, 
James, married Mr. Porter's sister Sarah, a 
woman whose character was pure gold. 
Mr. E. S. Brewer of Springfield is their 
only son ; Mrs. Dr. Corcoran of Maple 
street, the only daughter. Eunice, the 
fourth daughter, married Dr. David P. 
Smith, the noted physician and surgeon, 
who had inherited these gifts from a line 
of distinguished ancestors. Dr. Smith 







:d-^.. 





in . 



;--»■/ 



*■ t-i--\'^ 




fiOUSE NuMliER THREE. 



13 

held two professorships in Yale College at 
the time of his death, 1880. Miss Mary 
Brewer and Dr. and Mrs. Smith occupied 
House Number Two for some years, later 
it was rented. It is still in the possession 
of Mrs. E. Brewer Smith. 

House Number Three was built by Mr. 
Jonathan Dwight, 2d, for his daughter 
Sarah, the first wife of the historian George 
Bancroft. She died a few months after 
occupying the house. Memory brings Mr. 
Bancroft to mind as he came out of the 
door to join a democratic procession, which 
he left at the foot of the hill, and child 
though I was, I did not wonder he left it, 
for it was a very rough looking set of men 
compared to the whig processions my 
father favored. My sister Sophia and my- 
self learned to play " vingt et un " with the 
Bancroft children ; we have not forgotten 
the lovely candy we had for pool. Mr. 
Bancroft did not live in Number Three 
long ; Mr. Jonathan Dwight, 3d, bought it 



14 

and lived there many years. He married 
Miss Ann Bartlett of Boston, where he had 
been in active business a few years. He re- 
turned to Springfield in 1830, living a life 
of leisure afterwards. Mrs. Dwight was 
tall, commanding and gracious, so kindly 
to the young people, they were very fond 
of her. The only daughter, Anna, was 
much admired wherever she went — at Sar- 
atoga, Newport, or Washington ; she was 
called "the Rose Bud of Boston." She 
married Captain Charles Baker, a graduate 
of West Point; his father was Colonel 
Baker of the army. Both families had 
money, and Captain Baker soon retired 
from active service. The only son, Mr. 
John Dwight, lives in New York, a success- 
ful civil engineer. When Mr. Dwight left 
Springfield, House Number Three was oc- 
cupied by Mr. George Atwater and family. 
It was then bought by Mr. George Bliss 
for his daughter, Mrs. George Walker. 
Mr. Walker was from New Hampshire, a 



15 

graduate of Dartmouth College. He prac- 
ticed law in Springfield and was the first 
president of the Third National Bank. 
There are many to-day who remember his 
supremely courteous manners, never fail- 
ing patience, which virtues must have 
added much to his popularity during the 
seven years he was consul general at Paris. 
Mrs. Walker was lovely as a girl, a large- 
hearted woman, full of interest in all the 
philanthropies of that time. The Home 
of the Friendless and the Children's Home 
have not forgotten her. House Number 
Three has been owned for several years by 
Hon, W. H. Haile. Massachusetts honors 
her adopted son. 

House Number Four was originally built 
by Mr. Joseph Hall, agent for a manufac- 
turing company in Boston and Springfield. 
Tradition and memory fail to reveal clearly 
its early history. It was built about 1824. 
Mr. Hall's wife was Maria Bartlett of 
Boston, sister to Mrs. Jonathan Dwight. 



i6 

There were four children, three daughters 
and one son. Two children must have 
been born in Number Four. The second 
daughter, Caroline, married the late Prof. 
H. L. Eustis of Harvard College. The 
family moved to Boston in 1827. The 
next owner was Mr. Henry Dwight; his 
wife was Lucy Ann Bradford of Boston. 
Tradition and memory reveal very little of 
them. Mr. Edmund Dwight is also named 
on the transfer list. Tradition is silent. 
Mr. Jonathan Dwight, 3d, needs only mem- 
ory to tell his part in the story. He was 
the next owner. He lived in Boston win- 
ters for awhile, returning by stage coach 
in the early spring. When he bought the 
Bancroft house, Number Three, Judge Da- 
vid Cummins of Salem bought House 
Number Four. Judge Cummins was called 
to Springfield as Judge of the Court of Com- 
mon Pleas. His family was a fine addition 
to the social life of Chestnut street. There 
were seven children, four daughters and 



17 

three sons. Judge Cummins was one of 
the last to wear the ruffled shirt which gave 
a refined air and seemed to mark the gen- 
tleman. The dictionary meaning of that 
word was not then obsolete. Frank, the 
eldest son, opened a law office in Spring- 
field. The second daughter, Helen, mar- 
ried a wealthy paper manufacturer, Hon. 
Edmund P. Tileston, whose home was in 
Dorchester. She was married in Number 
Four. The third daughter, Maria, a spark- 
ling, bright girl became famous in after 
years as an authoress : the " Lamplighter " 
was translated into several languages. 
Judge Cummins moved to Dorchester in 
1845 or 1846, and opened a law office in 
Boston. Number Four was next owned by 
Mr. Horace Draper of the firm Draper & 
Bailey. The only daughter, Caroline, mar- 
ried Dr. Edward Trask, one of the family 
who built the Alexander house on State 
street. The late Mr. George Merriam in 
1848 bought House Number Four, and it is 



still occupied by the family. The Webster 
Dictionary has made the name of Merriam 
famous. No need for memory yet to re- 
vive the virtues of Mr. George Merriam, 
He died in 1880. Mrs. Merriam died in 
1875. ^^^ ^^^ ^ woman of rare loveliness 
in person and character. 

House Number Five was built by Mr. 
Elisha Edwards in 1824 and was occupied 
by the family over fifty years. Mr. Edwards 
was born in Chesterfield, Mass. Alexander 
Edwards of Wales, one of the early settlers 
of Springfield, was his ancestor. Mr. Ed- 
wards was several years with Dr. Hunt of 
Northampton. He came to Springfield 
about 181 5. In the early days was in 
business with Mr. Henry Sterns, afterwards 
by himself. He married in 182 1 Eunice, 
daughter of Daniel Lombard. It was Mr. 
Peabody's first wedding ceremony. Mr. 
Lombard was a descendant of John Lom- 
bard, also one of the early settlers of 
Springfield. His wife, Sylvia Burt, de- 



19 

scended from Henry Burt, another settler. 
Eulalia was the name of Henry Burt's wife. 
Mr. Lombard was postmaster twenty-three 
years ; was one of the first removals on ac- 
count of the " spoils " system inaugurated 
by Andrew Jackson in 1828. Mr. Edwards 
was one of the original directors of the 
Chicopee Bank. He had a rare personal- 
ity; every one was his friend. He paid the 
same respect to the poor man he passed on 
the street as to the more favored. His 
laugh was inspiring. No one could resist 
" catching the contagion of its warmth and 
cheerfulness." Mrs. Edwards had great 
beauty which she never lost during her 
seventy-eight years of life, but the only 
compliment she valued was one for her 
business ability. Mr. Edwards died when 
only forty-five years old ; the care of many 
children (ten were born in Number Five, 
three died in infancy), a large place, every- 
thing devolving upon her developed solid 
abilities. Mr. Edwards' funeral was on 



20 

Sunday in Feb. 1840 ; he, as a young man, 
with others was read out of the First Church 
at the time of the Unitarian secession. 
Dr. Osgood, however, always remained a 
fast friend ; tradition says had good reason. 
It also says Dr. Osgood went into his 
pulpit that Sunday afternoon and told his 
people " he thought they would like to go 
where he was going to the Unitarian 
Church to Mr. Edwards' funeral," he would 
make a prayer and then dismiss the con- 
gregation. 

This story seemed to have a flavor of 
sweetness for both men. " Rose Cottage," 
as House Number Five was called, (the 
roses climbed on all sides of the piazzas,) 
has its own story to tell of its past in the 
joyous, innocent life of those days. Its 
garden had no rival ; fruit, flowers and vege- 
tables in profusion. In the early days of 
peach culture there was such a yield, the 
peaches were gathered in quantities under 
a large willow tree in sight of the so-called 



21 



" back gate " for free distribution. That 
same willow tree ! Boys and girls, do you 
remember the swing that seemed to carry 
us skyward, almost to Heaven ; the elastic 
branch that bent but never broke, swaying 
in perfect harmony with the motion of the 
swing; and the fruit orchard, yielding its 
fruit all the summer months, cherries, 
plums, early pears, apples, such immense 
red sweet apples as only that one tree was 
ever known to bear, its branches growing 
on purpose to make comfortable seats, 
where the children could pass hours in play 
or study. The Fourth of July picnics in 
that same orchard sometimes in the grove 
opposite, do you remember .? Also in the 
winter months, when the fruit that often 
seemed to boys the " sweetest " was no 
longer there to tempt, its covering of 
shining ice attracted both boys and girls. 
Only this winter a sixty-year "young" 
man recalled the jolly old times in that 
same ice-clad orchard. 



22 



A year ago there were seven children liv- 
ing; Caroline, the eldest, married William L. 
Smith, a lawyer and twice mayor of Spring- 
field. Her memory is green to day ; the 
annals of " Auld lang syne " would grow 
dim without her. The second daughter, 
Sophia, married Mr. James H. Johnson of 
Bath, New Hampshire; he had been mem- 
ber of Congress the two previous years and 
again the two following years. She is en- 
rolled among the literary women of New 
Hampshire. There were five daughters and 
two sons ; all were married ; four daughters 
in the parlor of Number Five, where in the 
winter months the windows opened into a 
conservatory. The youngest was married 
in the old Unitarian Church. The oldest 
son, William, is a successful business man 
of Cleveland, Ohio, of whom it is said "No 
man can count more friends than he." The 
younger, Oliver, entered the army at the 
outbreak of the Civil War as adjutant ; 
retired at its close brevet major-general. 







House Number Six. 



23 

which title he had won. Eighteen years 
ago Number Five was removed and a street 
laid out through to Elliott street called 
Edwards street. 

House Number Six was built by James 
Sanford Dwight, son of James Scutt 
Dwight. He was two years at Harvard 
College; left on account of ill health; 
afterwards was in business with his father. 
He went abroad in 1830 and died in Flor- 
ence at the age of thirty-one. He married 
Elizabeth Lee, of Lancaster, Mass., daugh- 
ter of Benjamin Lee of Taunton, England. 
Three daughters were born in Number 
Six. The eldest, Elizabeth, married the 
famous specialist, the late Dr. Fordyce 
Barker of New York. Mary, the second 
daughter, married Mr. David A. Wtffe, 
also a native of Springfield, a noted polit- 
ical economist. He married the third 
daughter, Ellen, for his second wife. Mrs. 
Dwight married Mr. Adams and after- 
wards lived in Norwich. Number Six has 



24 

had a more varied experience than any 
other of the eight houses. Mr. Chester 
Harding bought it of the Dwight estate; 
while living there, built House Number 
Seven. Capt. John Child was the next 
owner; he was born in West Boylston, 
Mass.; Qrraduated from West Point; later 
resigned his commission to devote himself 
to the construction of railroads. He mar- 
ried Laura Dwight, daughter of James 
Scutt Dwight. She had the reputation of 
never talking gossip. Three children were 
born : Frank who died when about five 
years old, Lelia, as lovely as a Mayflower, 
who was lost at sea with her mother in the 
steamer Arctic, while returning from Eu- 
rope, and Mary, the wife of Mr. Charles P. 
Deane of Springfield. Capt. Child married 
for his second wife, Ellen, daughter of Mr. 
Mark Healey of Boston. Capt. Child 
rented Number Six for several years, 
while constructing railroads in different 
parts of the country. Major Whistler was 



25 

one of the occupants. He was a graduate 
of West Point. He came to Springfield 
in the interest of the Boston & Albany 
Railroad, then called the Western Railroad. 
His family consisted of his wife and five 
children. The only daughter, Deborah, 
was a beautiful girl ; she played the harp 
and it was lovely to see and hear her. 
Some one has suggested, " Were the young 
girls of those days so beautiful, is it not 
the old woman's vision that through her 
magnified glasses sees the faces that mem- 
ory paints ? " Disinterested authorities have 
been consulted; the verdict " You may take 
for truth every written superlative." Much 
more might be added that is suppressed 
for fear of suspected exaggeration. 

Springfield in those days was noted for 
its beautiful girls. They did not all live 
on Chestnut street. The evening before 
the wedding of Miss Anna Dwight in 
House Number Three, her aunt, Mrs. 
George Bliss, gave a party in honor of the 



26 

guests from abroad. Mrs. Harrison Gray 
Otis was one of them. She was the society 
leader of Boston at that time. In the course 
of the evening she gathered a number of 
the fair maidens in a circle, herself in the 
center, and as they danced round her, she 
saluted each in passing. Years after during 
the Civil war, her house was freely given 
to the work of the sanitary commission. 
One day, attracted by a young girl of fif- 
teen, one of the workers, she asked her 
name ; when told she was from Springfield 
(House Number Six), she said "Spring- 
field ! The garden of the Gods. I remem- 
ber seeing there some years ago, the most 

-^beautiful bevy of girls I ever gazed upon." 

Major Whistler was called to Russia to 

construct the first railroad there. He died 

before its completion. Deborah married 

Dr. Sydney Hayden , an Englishman, the 

^famous etcher. The three youngest sons, 
James, Will and Kirk were small boys. 
James is the famous London artist. Kirk 



27 

died while they were living in Number 
Six. The three had such beautiful hair, 
each head a mass of curls, exciting the 
envy of a little girl next door whose hair 
could not be tortured into a curl. Major 
Ripley, afterwards General, was the next 
occupant. Mrs. Ripley and five daughters 
comprised his family. The eldest was very 
beautiful. An unusual combination, dark 
almost black wavy hair, perfect features, 
deep blue eyes, dark eyebrows, complexion 
like ivory and a graceful figure. She 
married Mr. Robert C. Hooper of Boston, 
the wedding was in Number Six. A son, 
the late Dr. Frank Hooper was a noted 
specialist of Boston. Two of the children 
died in Number Six. Memory would like 
to paint you their pictures. Major Ripley 
directed the building of the Commandant's 
quarters at the Armory and when finished 
moved there. 

In later days. Rev. Francis Tiffany 
rented House Number Six, when he came 



28 

to Springfield from Cambridge Divinity 
School as pastor of the Unitarian Church, 
with his lovely bride Esther Brown. He 
and his wife were Baltimoreans. Mr. 
Tiffany built the house afterwards bought 
by the late Mr. Samuel Bowles, now the 
MacDuffie School on Central Street. 
Cambridge has been his home for some 
years. He is a well-known writer, has a 
genius for word painting. A book on 
Japan and India called " This Goodly 
Frame the Earth " is full of it. Capt. 
Child, after his second marriage, again 
resided in House Number Six and died 
there a year or two later. A son John 
was born a few days before his death. In 
time the place was sold to the late Mr. 
Ethan Chapin, Mrs. Chapin is still in pos- 
session. Mr. Chapin was one of the world 
wide known Massasoit proprietors. His 
eldest daughter married Hon. W. H. Haile 
the owner and occupant of House Number 
Three. 



29 

When Mr. Chester Harding, the famous 
artist, first came to Springfield, he occu- 
pied the Trask house on State Street now 
called the Alexander house, or " Linden 
Hall," then he moved to Chestnut Street, 
buying House Number Six. Later he 
built House Number Seven. It stood 
where Mattoon Street is now. It was an 
attractive residence ; 200 feet or more from 
the street ; a driveway made a half circle 
from one end to the other, extending from 
Number Six to the present Birnie lot. In 
front was a deep hollow enclosing a small 
pond where Neptune with his trident 
reigned supreme, to the delight of all 
passers-by. It was a fine coasting place 
for the young people in winter. This 
quotation from a letter must have a place 
here. " I wonder if you remember that 
when father made our place, it was a 
swampy piece of ground which he had 
offered to give Mr. Peabody if he would 
build upon it. He refused it, as being 



30 

quite impracticable. The whole thing 
was done by father. He had quite large 
trees moved to make the pond, when they 
were in full leaf in August, and they never 
drooped a particle." Those trees added 
so much to the beauty of the place. One 
cannot overpraise Mr. Harding's family. 
He, himself, was a grand specimen of a 
man ; six feet three inches in his stockings; 
a form duly proportioned and a magnifi- 
cent head. His " Egotistigraphy " is a 
wonderful record. His paternal grand- 
parents were Massachusetts farmers. The 
noblest men in the country came from 
such ancestors. His father had an inven- 
tive mania which brought poverty instead 
of gold. His family emigrated to the 
wilderness of New York State while he 
was yet a boy. At nineteen he could with 
some effort, read the only book they 
possessed, the Bible. He married while 
young ; his wife had taught school. After 
a varied experience of mostly hardships, at 



31 

the age of thirty-one, he is in London paint- 
ing his Royal Highness the Duke of Sus- 
sex. A guest of Mr. Coke (he it was who 
first proposed to acknowledge American 
Independence) painting his picture. At 
table there were ten attendants, the chief of 
ceremonies, butler and eight in powdered 
livery, every dish of silver; at dessert, 
knives and forks of gold. Also in Scotland 
guest of the Duke of Hamilton, painting his 
picture for the Duke of Sussex. And he 
himself an American nobleman truly. It 
was after this experience that he came to 
Springfield. Mrs. Harding was a perfectly 
self-poised woman, nothing ruffled her ; 
could you read the account of her early 
married life you would not wonder. She 
had beautiful brown eyes and was most lov- 
able. There were three daughters and six 
sons. The two eldest daughters were very 
beautiful, their faces in Memory's gallery 
are unrivaled. The second daughter 
Caroline married the late John L. King of 



32 

this city ; Margaretta the third daughter 
married Mr. William Orne White of Salem, 
Mass. He was many years Unitarian 
minister at Keene, N. H. Eliza Orne 
White the authoress is their daughter. 
The family are now living in Brookline, 
Mass. The sons are scattered over the 
land. Mr. and Mrs. King lived in the 
Homestead a few years after their mar- 
riage, Mrs. Harding died in 1845; Mr. 
Harding in 1866. Later Mr. King bought 
the house on the corner of Maple and 
Central Streets. It is still in the possession 
of his children. Mr. William Mattoon, a 
descendant of General Mattoon, bought 
the Harding place ; in time filled in the 
hollow and opened the street called Mat- 
toon Street. 

House Number Eight was built by Mr. 
William Dwight, a graduate of Harvard 
College. He was a son of Jonathan 
Dwight 2d., as ardent a Whig as his 
brother-in-law Mr Bancroft was a democrat. 




House Numuer Eight. 



33 

He married in 1830, Eliza Amelia White 
daughter of Hon. Daniel Appleton White 
of Salem, Mass. She was another rarely 
beautiful woman. She is remembered by 
the younger generation to-day, as she 
stood in the old Unitarian Church, sing- 
ing in the midst of her six boys, with a 
motherly eye to their behavior, and her 
lovely face all aglow with the spirit of the 
song. There was no Pearl street, no Bir- 
nie house then. The Dwight place and 
the Harding touched each other. Seven 
sons were born, six grew up in Number 
Eight. The babe that died was the first 
burial in the Springfield Cemetery. A 
lively set they were. The mother's nerves 
were sorely taxed. What could be done 
to lessen the strain ? Mr. Horace Mann 
was in town to lecture ; she consulted him. 
He said, " shut your boys in an attic, 
feed them on bread and water, allow no 
exercise and you will have as meek, tract- 
able boys as you desire ; but if you prefer 

LOfC 



34 

strong, healthy boys, with all their vital 
powers active, give them liberty with wise 
limitations." The eldest son, William, was 
a graduate of West Point. He was pro- 
moted to the rank of general in the Civil 
war. The second son. Wilder, was a grad- 
uate of Harvard College, a rare, splendid 
fellow ; he was killed early in the war, a 
tablet, telling his story, is in Memorial 
Hall at Cambridge. Howard, another 
brother, was also killed. In later years 
some men in the interest of speculation, 
bought Number Eight, moved it to one 
side and opened Pearl street through to 
Spring street. The late Mr. D. L. Harris 
bought the house in its new location and 
his family still have possession. Mr. Har- 
ris was a successful railroad business man, 
was president of the Connecticut River 
Railroad for many years. The family 
speak for themselves, " their own works 
praise them." 

There are a legion of details connected 



35 

with the story of each of the Eight Houses. 
Social life was at its best. Chestnut street, 
near the business center, yet so protected 
by its hills, it seemed like an enclosed 
park. In summer every one lived out of 
doors, and there were never more beauti- 
ful girls than those who went in and out 
of those Eight Houses. Hospitality was a 
common virtue. Skilled cooks the rule. 
There was great indignation when one was 
beguiled to Boston, where she lived in 
Gov. Winthrop's family, till homesickness 
returned her. No stoves nor ranges 
in the early days of memory ; over an open 
wood fire must the kettles boil and the 
haunches of venison and legs of mutton, 
kept to the limit of time, be roasted not 
baked, before the glowing coals. The 
large brick oven yielding its wealth of 
rich pastry and fruit cake minus baking 
powder. Were not eggs plenty in the 
land? There were plainer sorts for the 
children. Tradition as well as memory 



36 • 

tells of the dinners that were given, and 
of the guests, witty and brilliant, men of 
whom in later years Thackeray said when 
in Springfield to lecture after a dinner at 
Hon. George Ashmun's, they were equal 
to any he had ever met in England or 
America. Hon. George T. Davis of 
Greenfield, whom the Court often called 
to Springfield was an especial favorite. 
He had the reputation of being " the most 
brilliant table talker in America." 

After the story of the Eight Houses is 
told, there is A House by Itself that has 
also its place in the memories of Chestnut 
street. It was built by the late Mr. Jus- 
tice Willard in 1840 on the south side, 
where Harrison avenue now is. The 
land on that side being restricted, the 
house was placed partly down the hill to 
the required limit, with an entrance on 
Chestnut street. Mr. Willard was a na- 
tive of Greenfield, Mass., and a graduate 
of Dartmouth College. He opened a law 




A House i!Y Itself. 



37 

office in Springfield in 1816. He married 
Sarah Lyman Bryant of Springfield. 
There were eight children when the family 
came to live on Chestnut street, six 
daughters and two sons. The eldest 
daughter, Margaret, an interesting girl, 
died in her young maidenhood. Mrs. 
Willard died in 1853; Mr. Willard in 
1864. Mr. Willard held several impprtant 
offices. Hon. William :^ Bates of West- 
field relates this anecdote of him. There 
was a public meeting held in Springfield, 
year not mentioned, to discuss the question 
of constructing a railroad from Boston to 
Albany. After others had spoken, Mr. 
Willard arose and said, " Mr. President, I 
am told that I am apt to be too sanguine, 
but, sir, when I consider the improve- 
ments of the age, the new discoveries that 
must hereafter be made in that wonderful 
machine, the steam engine, I believe and 
am ready to declare, and I do declare that 
during the life time of some persons stand- 



38 

ing here, a train of cars will run from 
Springfield to Boston between sun and 
sun;" and, pausing a moment for the ap- 
plause to subside, he drew himself up, and 
shaking his finger with oracular solemnity, 
continued, " Yes, sir ; I repeat between sun 
and sun and' back again the same day." 
The prophecy was received with a deafen- 
ing shout, and Mr. Willard sat down amid 
the jeers of his audience. About 1857 Sa- 
rah opened a school in a little building on 
the place, assisted by a twin sister, Susan, 
and Harriet, a younger sister. The younger 
son, Wells, distinguished himself in the 
Civil war ; was taken prisoner and can 
tell of Libby and Danville. At the close 
of the war he entered the regular army 
and now holds the rank of major. Mr. 
Willard, during his life, opened the lower 
part of his place to Harrison avenue al- 
ready opened to Main street, but not till 
some years after his death did the family 
remove the house and open Harrison 
avenue to Chestnut street. 



39 

Most of the early families were Unita- 
rians of the original New England kind, 
which would almost be called Conservative 
Orthodox to-day. Overlooking old papers 
a year ago, four funeral sermons by Mr. 
Peabody were read. The grandchildren of 
that generation exclaimed, "did people sit 
and listen to such sermons, why the gloom 
of them is dreadful." The sermons were 
considered very beautiful in the far off days. 
The sunlight of God's love was just begin- 
ning to gild the shadow of death. Unita- 
rianism was "heresy," To be called '* a 
heretic," roused the youthful spirit and 
made one watchful. Mr. Peabody died in 
May, 1847. There was a gathering of 
friends in the old Unitarian Church to 
arrange for his funeral ; tender, loving 
words were spoken. One of the speakers 
was Dr. Osgood of the First Church. 
Memory recalls these words, and the hear- 
ers' amazement, " By following such an 
example as his we shall be following the 



40 

example of one who is still higher." Could 
a finer tribute to any man be paid, what- 
ever his creed ? After that day " heretic " 
lost all its sting. To quote Dr. Osgood 
gave peace to the soul. 

When one looks over the record of those 
who originally lived in these " Houses " 
and of the children who went out from 
them into the world, one's heart fills with 
pride ; they have in most every instance 
stood for what is the highest and best in 
the land. There are many more traditions 
pleading for a place on these pages ; they 
must remain unwritten. If anyone is dis- 
satisfied with the record, they are in 
sympathy with the writer. There are five 
of the Nine Houses remaining on Chestnut 
street ; not one occupied by descendants 
of the original owners. They are in the 
possession of worthy inheritors of ancient 
Chestnut street, but its pristine glory has 
departed, its privacy vanished, its trees 
have been ruthlessly laid low. Although 



41 

there is a glimmering of the old days left, 
it is only to the eyes of those who know 
the old, old story. 

Charlotte Edwards Warner. 

February, 1897. 



The writer, Charlotte Edwards Warner, and her 
sister, Sophia Orne Johnson, present this little 
sketch to the descendants of Ancient Chestnut 
Street, 



Press of Clark W. Bryan Co., 
Springfield, Mass. 



^^LS^^iyU a6uU^-eJJ QaxJ^ tLuA^ /^UJ^ t^'^^^ ^4^ 








\' 



7^ 




/^ a^^U^ o/^.--t-. 



^^ ^My^JlAc^ 




c ^ / 



